Those who’ve been following (for example) Osamu Tezuka’s Buddha graphic novel and its film adaptation, or Deepak Chopra’s “Buddha” comic book, know that it’s not so new to mix Buddhism and comics. But it does seem to work, and one Buddhist temple is getting in on the act. As Culture Clash Daily reports:

This month [Japan's Ryohoji] Temple unveiled its new “moe Buddhist [signboard],” [rendered in an animation-based style] combining modern and ancient art. [This development came about after the temple's chief priest, Shoko Nakazato] displayed a picture of “moe” outside the temple to welcome passers by. Moe is a traditional Japanese slang word often for a young girl, and associated with innocence, love and caring.

According to Shoko Nakazato, young people and the media have been flocking to the temple ever since. (The temple’s website takes a similar approach, also depicting and blending moe and Buddhist imagery.) But as one visitor told The Japan Times, “I’m afraid that the temple will end up being just a mecca for fans of manga and anime, which is probably not the temple’s intention.” As for the artist behind the sign? She says that while she “was initially worried she might be doing something ‘indiscreet,’” [she] concluded that even if the sign was controversial, it might lead people to visit the temple and think about religion.”

Toldja about this on The Worst Horse the other day. Here’s the actual video:

So. Thoughts?

Remember this ad?

Well, the Detroit News is now reporting that it has a sequel.

The Dalai Lama is in a hastily shot commercial for Fiat SpA, partner of Chrysler Group LLC in a follow-up to a controversial Chrysler ad from a year ago.

The commercial was shot in Hiroshima where the Buddhist leader is addressing the 11th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates this weekend.

It was quickly edited and is already airing, Olivier Francois, head of marketing for both Chrysler and Fiat, told The Detroit News at a Chrysler drive event in San Francisco Saturday.

The Horse hopes to have it to you soon. UPDATE: Here it is:

Told you about the Zen the other day.

Now, here’s a link to its new commercial (via BizCommunity; links open in new windows).

Yee gads.

Glad to see this is now online. I really apologize that you’ll have to watch the Axe ad, with all its “balls” jokes. Guh-ross. Well, I guess Axe understands how to advertise to their market.

Anyway, if you can get past that you’ll eventually get to the Worst Horse-relevant bit of this. (Okay, once you get the general setup, you can just jump ahead to the 4:25 mark or so.)

And also, Dear God, please deliver us from further Axe ads if you can.

I tried to stay away from Rand Paul and his apparent former love of smoking out of a bong water pipe. Really I did. But this new anti-Paul ad, which takes that infamous fact out of context and seems to pit the Buddha against Christ, without a single mention of weed, is some pure, uncut bullshit.

In this groanworthy new ad I just shot off the TV for you, a semi-anthropomorphic aerosol spray can takes the words right out of my mouth.

Well, no, of course not. And yet… (See my latest post at Shambhala SunSpace for more on this one and to chime in.)

There’s no shortage of ads and merchandise that play off the (unfortunate?*) use of the word “Buddha” as slang for weed.  Hence this one, above, sent by Alex of Dharma Bums, who writes:

Saw this ad in the back of Citybeat Magazine here in San Diego. They have a ton of ads for Medical Marijuana dispensaries and this was one of them. As usual, the Buddha is tokin’.

Thanks for sending it on, Alex.

* Whether or not the slang term is unfortunate, actually depicting the Buddha smoking has got to be. At the very least, it sure is hacky. Plus, it’s not even a Buddha, but a Buddha statue. Duh.

A new piece from the editor of the Sweden-based Asian Tribune (published by the World Institute for Asian Studies) makes no bones about the Tribune’s feelings about the phenomenon of the Dharma-Burger. (I can only imagine how they might react to that term in and of itself.)

A couple of excerpts:

Internet companies, institutes for massage, restaurants, resellers of furnishing, and breeders of exotic cats all adopt Buddha in their uninhibited capitalist interests. As well as leaching the symbolic meaning which adherents of Buddhism ascribe to the Enlightened One. Some resellers of these, as they are marketed, oriental objects, also advertise that their Buddha statues are traded fairly or subscribe to the criteria for fair production.

And:

The commercialization of Buddha is an insult to all adherents of the Buddhist tradition. And can be seen as an expression of the prevailing relation between the so called Third world and the postcolonial powers.

Some would say that this is just plain true.

Some would say you have to look at such things in a matter of context.

There’s certainly an argument that different views might largely be the result of fundamental cultural differences. But then it can be fairly said that certain aspects of certain of cultures have to be more conducive to practicing what the Buddha taught than others. After all, wasn’t the Buddha ultimately offering a path to a different kind of culture, one fueled not by outward, material pursuits but by the best of what resides inside us all?

Or is a “Buddha for Sale” maybe not so bad, because we need reminders everywhere we go, not least of all the marketplace?

And hey, each Buddha for Sale is one less Snuggie or Big Mouth Billy Bass or whatever.

Maybe, though, it’s becoming more like one more Big Mouth Billy Bass. (Or whatever.)

(Yikes!)

Anyway, what do you say? Check it out.

Comments welcome.